Jewell Loyd Leads Team Stewart to All-Star Game Victory in Record-breaking Fashion
With her parents in the audience celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary, Seattle Storm’s Jewell Loyd led Team Stewart in record-breaking fashion to a win over Team Wilson 143-127 in the All-Star game Saturday night in Las Vegas.
“I had extra motivation today,” Loyd said postgame. “My family is here, and I want to wish a happy 40th anniversary to my parents. They wanted me to shoot a lot of threes, so that’s what I did.”
She finished with 31 points, six assists, and four rebounds setting a new All-Star scoring record. Her efforts, which included 10 three-pointers, earned her the All-Star MVP trophy.
Within three minutes of the tip, Loyd knocked down her first three-pointer, on her way to breaking the All-Star record for made treys.
Halfway through the season, she is the league’s leading scorer at 25.7 points per game, on pace to break the WNBA single-season scoring record. She also averages 3.7 three-pointers per contest.
Reigning 2023 WNBA Starry 3-Point Contest champion Sabrina Ionescu (New York Liberty) finished with 18 points on 41.7% (5-12) shooting from the floor, including 41.7% (5-12) from deep, plus eight assists, and six rebounds. Her performance included a new All-Star game record of three 4-pointers.
For the second consecutive season, the league included a 4-point shot in the event. The two teams combined to connect on a dozen from 28 feet.
Team Stewart’s Brittney Griner electrified the crowd early on with a dunk in the first quarter. The Phoenix Mercury center finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds. Her All-Star Teammate Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx) was also in double figures with 20 points plus six rebounds. Kahleah Copper (Chicago Sky) added 16 points for Team Stewart.
Las Vegas Aces guard Kelsey Plum led Team Wilson with 30 points. Team captain and Las Vegas Aces forward A’ja Wilson had 20 points. Dallas Wings guard Arika Ogunbowale had 18 points plus six rebounds and five assists.
The league resumes play Tuesday, July 18 with two games:
- Minnesota Lynx vs. Atlanta Dream, 7 p.m. ET, NBA TV
- Connecticut Sun vs. Phoenix Mercury, 10 p.m. ET, CBS Sports
The Next All-Star Site Announced
Before the game, WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced that the 2024 WNBA All-Star will be hosted by the Phoenix Mercury at Footprint Arena. It makes the third time that the three-time WNBA champions will host the midseason event.
“As I’ve said from day one, we are going to make Phoenix one of the leading basketball destinations in the world and the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game is going to be an unbelievable experience,” said Mat Ishbia, Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Suns owner. “As the women’s game continues to grow and reach new heights, we are going to put on an All-Star weekend that will accelerate that growth and elevate the league. I want to thank the WNBA and the entire Phoenix community for coming together to help bring the WNBA All-Star Game to the Valley. I couldn’t be more excited to show the world what Phoenix basketball is all about.”
